Pneumatic massage apparatus.



` 116.738,583. i PATENTED sBPT.819.oa1.

R. wATsoN.

PNEUMATIG MASSAGE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED oq'r. 1o, 1900.

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UNITED l STATES- iatented September 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT WATSON, OF SORANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOCHARLES VA. KRAM, OFWASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF`COLUMBIA.

PNEUMATIC MASSAGE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 738,583, datedSeptember 8, 1903. Application filed October 10, 1900. Serial No.32,566. (No model.)

T a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT WATSON, a citi-v zen of the United States,residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and ternal air-pressures beingequalized after each operation of rarefaction or compression.

The present invention relates to an apparatus by means of which the airwithin the earpiece may be successively'rarefied or successivelycompressed or alternately com- `.pressed and rareiied, as desired,theinternal of'one form of my apparatus, the cylinder and piston beingshown .in central section. Fig. 2 is a side viewof the same, thecylinder being shown partly broken away andpartly in section. Fig. 3 isa section on the line'3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. et shows a sectionof thepiston-rod. through the tappet shown in Figs; 1 and 2.

Fig. 6 is a front view of 'the pressure-regulating valve and dial. Fig.`7 is a central section througha modified form ofapparatus. Fig. S showsa part of the tubular extension of the piston illustrated in Fig. 7.Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the pointer for indicating the positionof the stop shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a central sectional view throughanother modincation. Fig. 11 is a section on Fig. 5 is a longitudinalsectiony the line w :c of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is aside view of theadjustable cap shown in-Fig. 10, and

Fig. 13 shows a mercury column for visually indicating the air-pressure.

Referring to Figs. l to 5, inclusive, of the drawings, 1 indicates acylinder having an opening at one end communicating with a suitableearpiece 2 by means of a iiexible tube 3, the cylinder, tube, andearpiece constituting a laterally-inclosed ai-rchamber. Within thecylinder is arranged a piston 4, having a central opening 5, throughwhich extends the piston-rod 6. The opening 5 is large enough to permitthe piston-rod-to play freely through it. Openings 7 extendlongitudinally through the piston,and valves 8 and 9, secured to thepiston-rodon either side of the piston, are arranged to abut against thepiston alternately when the piston-rod is reciprocated, these valvesserving the double purpose of closing the openings 7 'and moving thepiston. The valve 9 is cut away at the sides, as shown at 10, Fig. 3,and rods 11, carrying a rectangular frame 12, are secured withinsuitable openings in the piston on either side of the valve 9. Thepiston-rod extends through the ends 13 and ll'ofthe rectangular frame,and these ends form stops for an adjustable tappet 15, arranged'iuponthe piston-rod within the opening inthe frame.

-This tappet, as shown in Fig.l 5, is provided with a spring-pin 16, andthe piston-rod is formed with three depressions beingmarked S,?. A, andC, respectively, to indicate suction, falternatef and compression.

V'hen the tappet is arranged in the central position marked A, themovement of thepiston-rod will not caused-the tappet `to strike eitherof the stops `13 or 14, for the reason that the valves 3 and 9 williirst engage the piston.

'It will be apparent, therefore, that in the cenwhile the valves are outof contact withv the piston the air may escape through the openings 7,thus equalizi'ng the internal and extern al air-pressures. Upon thereturn stroke of the piston the valve 8 closes the ports 7 and draws thepiston forward, thus rarefying the air within the air-chamber, and atthe end of the ret-urn stroke the air-pressures are again equalized bythe lifting of the valves from the piston at the change of the stroke.In this manner alternate rarefaction and compression of the air withinthe air-chamber is produced when the tappet is in the central position.1f, however, the tappet be moved along the rod to the point marked S,indicating suction, the forward movement of the piston will cause thetappet to engage the stop 13 before the valve 9 comes in contact withthe piston, as indicated in Fig. 2. The piston willk then be forcedforward by the tappet, bearing against the stop, and the ports 7 4willremain open during the forward stroke of the piston, thus permitting theair to escape instead of being compressed. On the returnv stroke of thepiston, however, the valve 8 will; close the openings 7, the tappetmoving away from the stop 13, as indicated in Fig. 1. The air will thusbe rarefiedwithin the air-chamber successively without beingcompressed.l In like manner if the tappet 15 be moved to theindicator-niark C it will engage the stop 14 on the rearward stroke,thus moving the piston rearward and preventing the valve 8 from seatingagainst the piston. Therefore the air will pass freely through thepiston during its rearward stroke and the air will not be rarefiedwithin the air-chamber; but upon the forward 'stroke the valve 9 willseat against the piston, pushing it forward and closing the ports 7,thus compressing the air within the chamber. It will therefore be seenthat by simply adjusting the tappet 15 to the appropriate indicator-markthe apparatus may be employed to draw the ear-drum .outward repeatedlywithout forcing it inward, or it may be employed to force the druminward repeatedly without drawing it out` ward, or the drum may be movedinward and outward alternately7 as desired. may be operated in anysuitable way-as, for instance, by means of a link 20, connected toasuitable crank-arm upon a driving-shaft.;

The degree of com ression and rarefaction `may be controlled by varyingthe length of the stroke; but I prefer to give the piston a uniformstroke and to vary the degree of compression and rarefaction by means ofa valve 21, arranged within a pipe 22, communicating with theair-chamber. It will be seen that by opening this valve so that the airmay pass through it freely little or no effect .Will be produced in theearpiece by the opera-y tion of the piston and that as the valve is4moved from the open position to the closed position the effect withinthe air-chamber will be gradually increased. I arrange a dial 23-uponthe side of the pipe 22 and a pointer 24 uponthe` handle 25 of thevalve. A scale ,261s arranged uponthe dial and by moving The pistony thehandle' to bring the pointer opposite the different graduations on thescale various degrees of compression or rarefaction may be obtainedwithout stopping the apparatus.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modification in which the piston is continuedoutward in the form of a perforated tubular extension 27, and thisextension is internally threaded at'its outerend and adapted to receivea threaded plug 2S. The tube 37 is formed with a longitudinal slot 29,having indicatormarks along its edge. The plug is formed with a groove30 near its inner end, and within this groove is a pointer 31, arrangedupon an arc-shaped base 32, which slides freely within the groove whenthe plug is turned. It will be seen that by turning'the plug the pointerwill be moved along in the slot and may be brought opposite any of theindicator-marks. 'lhe plug has a central opening 33, as shown, throughwhich the piston-rod 6 extends, and tappets 34 and 35 are arranged uponsaid rod on either side of the cap 36 of the plug. As shown, the tappetsare arranged upon a sleeve 37. The plug answers the purpose of a stopfor the tappets. By adjusting the plug so that the pointer will comeopposite any one of the indicatormarks the action of the apparatus willbe controlled-accordingly, and successive suc.v

tion or compression or suction and compression alternately, may beobtained. In Fig. 7 the pointer is shown at the center or alternatingposition, in which position the tappets cannot engage the stop in eitherdirection of movement.

In Fig. 10 1 have shown another modification in which the tube 27 n isof smaller dialneter than the diameter of the piston and is connectedthereto by a perforated disk 38. Instead of having a threaded plug, asshown in Fig. 7, a cap 39, having a sleeve 40, is fitted over the outerend of the tube, and this sleeve 'is provided with three bayonet-joints`on its opposite sides, which are adapted to be engaged by pins 41 uponthe tube. The notches which form the joints are marked with lettersindicating suction, alternate and compression, and by adjusting the capoutward and inward upon the tubethe tappets 34 and 35 upon thepiston-rod may be made to engage the cap or to clear it, as desired,thus controlling the apparatus [in the manner described in connectionwith previous figures. 1n Fig. 10 the pins or pointers 41 are shownwithin the notch indicating conipression, while the tappet 34 is inengagement with the inner side of the cap, thepiston being moved in thedirection ofthe arrow. The engagement of the tappet 34 with the capprevents the seating of the valve 8, as shown. In Fig. 12 the pin 41 isshown within the central notch indicating alternate suction andcompression, in which position neither tappet would engage the cap.

In Fig. 10 Ihave shown a convenient means for operating the piston-rod,which requires IOO IIO

' less spacethan the arrangement in which the rodis driven by a linkconnected to a crank.

Mlnthis figure `the rod 6 is provided with a l Fig. 13 shows anindicator for visually indicating to the operator the degree ofcompression or rarefaction Within the chamber. v

I tube being U shaped.

nected temporarily by a suitable lflexible connection 48 to the pipe 23,as shown in Fig. l0,

head 42, having a Vslot 43 at right angles to p the line of movement ofthe rod, and Within this slot is arranged a crank-pin 44, which pin isadjustabl-y secured Within a radial slot .45in a driving-Wheel 46, thelatter being mounted upon a suitable shaft. By adjusting the pin 44outward or inward along the radial slot 45 the travel of the piston maybe varied, if desired. i

rIhis indicator, as shown, consists of a graduated glass tube 47,containing mercury, said The tube may be confor-the purpose ofindicating the degree of compression or-rarefaction; but I prefer toconnect it to an additional pipe 49, as shown in Fig. 7, said pipe beingprovided with avalve 50, by means of Which communication withtheair-chamber may be cut off or established at will. 1

Other forms of apparatus maybe employed to accomplish the purpose ofthis invention;

but I prefer the form shown, in which the port isnlocated in the pistonand the valves foropening and closing said ports are secured to thepiston-rod, said rod and piston being relatively movable. i l

It will be apparent that Where a single tappet is used, as in Fig. l, adouble stop is necessary and that a single stop requires a double tappetin order toget the desired results, as shown in Figs. 7 and 10.1

The fearpiece, which constitutesthe for- Ward end of the'chamber, may beof any suitable form adapted to be closed by placing it against the earor other part of the body to be treated.

`Having describedmy invention, what I claim isl. A pneumatic massageapparatus comprising a laterally-inclosed air-chamber having an openingadapted to be closed by the part of the body to be treated, means foralternatelycompressing and rarefying the air Within said chamber, meansfor permitting the internal and external air-pressures to equalize aftereach operation of compression and rarefaction, and meansfor adjustingsaid apparatus to produce compression of the air Within the chamberrepeatedly without rarefaction,

i when desired.

2. A pneumatic massage apparatus comprising a laterally-inclosedair-chamber having an opening adapted to be closed by the part of the``body to be treated, means for altery nately compressing and rarefyin gthe air Within said chamber, means for permitting the in-4 ternal andexternal air-pressures to equalize e after each operation of compressionand rarefaction, and means for adjusting said apparatus to producerarefaction of the air `Within `tion of the air Within the chamberWithout compression, as desired.

4.` A pneumatic massage apparatus comprising a laterally-inclosedair-chamber having an openingadapted to be closed by the part of thebody to be treated, means for alternately compressing and rarefying theair Within said chamber, means for permitting the internal and externalair-pressures to equalize atthe completion of each operation ofcompression and rarefaction, means for adjusting the apparatus toproduce either compression of the air Within the chamber repeatedlywithout rarefaction or to produce rarefaction of the air Within thechamber repeatedly without compression, as desired, and indicatingdevices for indicating the proper position of said adjusting means toproduce said results.

5. A pneumatic massage apparatus comprising a piston having a porttherethrough, a e 3 cylinder Within Which said piston is arranged, apiston-rod movable relatively to the piston, and valves attached to saidrod and adapted to close said port When the piston-rod is moved ineither direction. Y

6. A pneumatic massage apparatus comprising a cylinder forming part of alaterallyinclosed air-chamber open at its forward end, a piston havingaportextendingtherethrough arranged within said cylinder, a piston-rodmovable relatively to the piston and valves connected to said rod andadapted to close saidport to prevent the passageof airthrough the pistonwhen the latter is moved in either direction and to open said port atthe change indirection of the stroke of the piston-rod.`

7. AA pneumatic massage apparatus comprising a piston having a portextending therethrough, a cylinder Within which said piston is movable,valves adapted to close said port, a piston-rod movable relatively tothe piston and to which said valves are attached; a tappet carried bysaid rod and a stop secured to said piston, said stop and tappet beingrela-4 tively adjustable, and indicator-marks arrangedto indicate therelative positions of said stop and tappet.

8. A pneumatic massage apparatus com-` prising a piston having a porttherethrough, a cylinder within which said piston is i. arranged, apiston-rod movable relatively to the piston, valvesattached to said rodfand` IIO adapted to close said port When the pistonrod is moved ineither direction, and means for preventing one of said valves fromseatyIo ing when desired. v

9. A pneumatic massage apparatus co1nprising a piston having a portextending there'- through, a cylinder Within which said piston ismovable, valves adapt-ed to close said port, a piston-rod movablerelativelyto the piston and to which said valves are attached, a tappetcarried by said rod, and a stop secured to said piston, said stop andtappet being relatively adjustable. v

l0. A pneumatic massage apparatus comton.

11. A pneumatic massage apparatus comprising a cylinder forming part ofa laterallyinclosed air-chamber open at its forward end, a reciprocativepiston Within the cylinder and suitable valves adapted to cause compression or rarefaction of the air Within said chamber during the strokeof the piston and to permit the internal and external air pressures toequalize at 'the end of the stroke, a device for visually indicating thedegree of compression or rarefactionof the air Within the chambercylinder comprising part of a laterally-ini closed air-chamber, saidchamber having an opening adapted to be closed by the part of the bodyto be treated and having an air-port, a piston for compressing andrarefying the air within said chamber, automatically-operated valvemechanism normally closing said port during the pistonistroke in bothdirections of movement, and arranged to open and then close saidair-port at the end of 'each piston-stroke in order to produce alternatecompression and rarefactio'n'of the air Within the chamber duringsuccessive piston strokes, and adjustable means for preventing the valvemechanism from closing the port during either stroke of the piston Whilepermitting said mechanism to close the port during the succeedingstroke, in order to produce compression repeatedly Without rarefactionory rarefaction repeatedly Without compression, as desired.

In testimony Whereot` I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT WATSON.

'Vitnessesz M. F. SANDS, JOHN M. CORBETT.

